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Mary Ann Mobley was born in 1937 in Biloxi, Mississippi.[1] After serving her reign as Miss America 1959, Mobley embarked on a career in both film and television. She signed a five-year contract with MGM.[2] She made her first television appearances on Be Our Guest in 1960, followed by five appearances on Burke's Law from 1963-1965, and went on to make multiple appearances on Perry Mason; Love, American Style; and Fantasy Island.[3] She had a recurring role as Maggie McKinney Drummond on Diff'rent Strokes in the final season of the series, having taken over the role from Dixie Carter. She would later guest star as Karen Delaporte, a snide head of an historical society who crossed swords with Dixie's character, Julia Sugarbaker, in Carter's later series, Designing Women.[4]

Mobley was crowned Miss America 1959,[7] the first Mississippian to achieve this honor,[8] winning the national talent award.[9]

Mobley joined her husband, Gary Collins, as co-host of the 1989 Miss America pageant, in September 1988 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the 30th anniversary year of her own Miss America pageant victory.[10]

The couple separated in 2011 but reconciled and were living in Biloxi, Mississippi, when Collins died on October 13, 2012.[15] Collins and Mobley had one daughter together, Mary Clancy Collins. Mobley was also step-mother to Melissa Collins and Guy William Collins, her husband's children from his first marriage.[16]